December 9, 2021
We have two—yes two!—Passport exclusives this month. The BAFTA award-winning series Broadchurch starring Olivia Colman and David Tennant is a well-crafted whodunit with an emotional complexity that makes this extraordinary series a must-see. Land Girls is a period drama about the women who worked for the Women's Land Army during WWII, operating shorthanded farms due to local farmers' deployment to the frontlines. A nostalgic look at an era when patriotism before self was a necessity.
- Heather Mazzoni, Chief Content Officer
Now on to the shows
Broadchurch
When a young boy is murdered, this small town of Broadchurch in Dorset suddenly becomes the focus of a major event in the full glare of the media spotlight. DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) lead the investigation, as one by one the community of Broadchurch is drawn into the police inquiry, starting with the immediate family, and then radiating outward. Binge all three seasons now.
Land Girls
Follow the lives, loves, highs, and lows of members of the Women's Land Army working at the Hoxley Estate during World War II. As men fought on the battlefields, women from all walks of life worked the farms that fed the nation, doing their part to keep the home front running. Binge all three seasons now.
The Portillo Expedition: Mystery on Bougainville Island
This documentary examines the circumstances surrounding the death of Isoroku Yamamoto – the Japanese WWII Admiral who planned the Pearl Harbor surprise attack and the Battle of Midway. The documentary follows a crew of American explorers to the remote jungle of western Solomon Islands to uncover the mystery of Admiral Yamamoto’s downfall. Watch Now.
Happy Holidays from Bing & Frank
Celebrate the holidays with this timeless favorite featuring the magical combination of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby in an early color television special from 1957. The two legends swap Christmas carols, songs, and stories, pay a musical visit to Victorian England, and duet on Christmas classics. Directed by Sinatra, with music conducted by Nelson Riddle. Watch Now.
Mark Your Calendar
Finding Your Roots – Full Library
In celebration of the release of the eighth season of Finding Your Roots, all seven seasons of Finding Your Roots will be added to Passport next month! For more than a decade, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has helped to expand America’s sense of itself, stimulating a national conversation about identity with humor, wisdom, and compassion. Professor Gates has explored the ancestry of dozens of influential people from diverse backgrounds, taking millions of viewers deep into the past to reveal the connections that bind us all. Here’s a sneak peek of season eight.
WHRO Staff Pick
A recent favorite of mine is the new adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small. It’s a truly heartwarming show that balances moments of humor with more serious storylines. The characters feel like people you would like to know, and the period details and beautiful images of the Yorkshire countryside make it a visual feast. I’ve already watched Season 1 twice and can’t wait for Season 2!
Wayla Chambo
WHRO FM Assistant Program Director & Host Afternoon Classics
December 23, 2021
Welcome to the holiday edition of our Passport newsletter. We have selected a few of our holiday favorites to share this season and want to wish you all the happiest of holidays as well as a prosperous and healthy new year!
- Heather Mazzoni, Chief Content Officer
Now on to the shows
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
The Western Front, Christmas, 1914. Out of the violence a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing "Stille Nacht." Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music, peace. A remarkable true story told in the words and songs of the men who lived it. Watch Now.
Lucy Worsley's 12 Days of Tutor Christmas
Join Lucy Worsley on a 12-day extravaganza as she discovers that much of what we enjoy in contemporary Christmas — from carols to gift-giving, feasting and drinking — was just as popular 500 years ago, with some surprising Tudor twists. Watch Now.
Wheaton College Christmas Festival: Through His Own Redeeming Love
Experience the story of the Bible through "Nine Lessons and Carols." This traditional Christmas concert alternates between choral and instrumental pieces performed by talented musicians of the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music ensembles and presents a mixture of traditional and contemporary Christmas music. Watch Now.
Rick Steves' Europe
Join America’s leading authority on European travel, as he returns to transport viewers to the continent’s bustling cities, quaint villages, and picturesque countryside. From the Swiss Alps to Glasgow, this is the perfect series to binge after the holiday festivities! Watch Now.
Mark Your Calendar
Around the World in 80 Days
Get ready to set sail in the hot air balloon with Phileas Fogg, Passepartout, and Fix in a brand new adaptation of Jules Verne's classic adventure novel Around the World in 80 Days, starring David Tennant.
Series premiere Sunday, January 2.
WHRO Staff Pick
I never get tired of watching Ken Burns documentaries - from Civil War to Muhammad Ali. I frequently binge on them multiple times and marvel at the way he's able to bring history to life. Fun fact: Mr. Burns and I were classmates in high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a year behind me. But - I didn't remember him, and if he remembers me at all, it would be as the guy who read the announcements every morning.
Douglas Boynton
All Things Considered Host & Producer